Baking powder and process of making the same.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO BEST, CHARLES S. ASI-I, EDGAR SAMSON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

BAKING-POWDER AND PROCESS OF MAKING THE SAME.

Application filed September 6,1905. Serial N0. 277,256.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, OTTO BEST and .CHARLE's S. Asn, citizens of the United qualities as ingredients in baking powder but have heretofore either not been used at all, or not considerably, on account of the baking powder made from these ingredients being too unstable, due to their ready solubility and also on account of such bakin owder being from the same cause too rapid in its action, erforming the leavening process too quick y to make a desirable finished product.

The object of the present invention is to provide a baking powder in which such ingredients may be used which shall yet be stable and which shall also be reluctant in its action, thus permitting the dough to rise slowly and gradually.

The theoretical explanation of this process is based on the following facts: Coagulated albumen is insoluble in water, but soluble in caustic soda, forming an alkaline solution of coagulated albumen. From this alkaline solution, the albumen is precipitated again by most acids present in solution in sufficient quantities to neutralize the alkali that holds the coagulated albumen in solution.

., alka In other words :-Adding to the alkaline solution of albumen, made from coagulated albumen, the necessary quantity of an acid, brings the albumen, held in solution by the i back again in an insoluble form. The

* solution of coa ulated albumen in caustic is as fo lows :-We coagul alkali will herea ter be spoken of as alkaline albumen. This reaction of precipitatin from a solution of alkaline albumen, inso uble albumen is made use of for coating certain acid ingredients, otherwise, or in unrestrained state not suitable for baking powder and thereby made suitable for that purpose.

The ractical carrying out of this process ate a 12% solution of albumen about 4 cc. by the application of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1907.

. heat and dissolve it again in a small excess of a 10% caustic soda solution (about 0. 3 c.

referred to. We then take a certain amount of starch (orother filler) say 20 g. and add to it, say, 4 c. c. of the alkaline albumen and mix well. We thus get a semi-dry mixture. We can obtain a more or less wet mixture, by adding more or less of the alka minute particles of starch with a soluble film of alkaline albumen. We can obtain a thicker or thinner film by using a stronger or weaker solution of alkaline albumen.

ture, say, 26

mix a ain. Wherever a particle of tarsurrounded by alkaline a bumen a small amount of tartaric acid is dissolved by the moisture, and chemical reaction takes place at the point of contact, by which the albumen at that particular point is precipitated, and this particle of starch, by means of the coagulated albumen is attached to the surface of the tartaric acid. Through renewed stirring, new surfaces of tartaric acid are thus exposed to the minute particles of starch coated with alkaline albumen and further covering of tartaric acid with the coated starch. particles takes lace. As coagulation of the film around t e starch cannot take place between the starch articles themselves, but only when touched by particles of tartaric acid, this coating of tartaric acid acid with unprotected sur ace.In this process sufficient moisture must be present to dissolve enough of the tartaric acid to neutralize the alkali of the alkaline albumen and recipitate the latter. The mixture is then dried at a low temperature (135 degrees F.) under constant agitation. We now have the articles of tartaric acid coated with a dry insoluble film, consisting of a mixture of starch, and coagulated albumen.

We do not limit ourselves to any particular acid or acid salt, as this process can of course be applied to any substance, suitable as an acid ingredient, but too violent in its unrestrained action.

The tartaric acid thus prepared is mixed with the necessary quantlty of bicarbonate c.) and obtain the alkaline albumen above line albumen. By this method we coat the:

tone acid is touched by a article of starch,

with coated starch keeps on as long as coated. starch particles still find articles of tartaric When perfectly mixed, we add to this InlX- in the usual manner, with or -Without additional filler, according to the strength desired.

In the use of this baking powder the thin film of starch and albumen (of the above descri tion) which .is coagulated upon the particlles of the acid ingredients, is not dissolved by the action of hot or cold water, but is mechanically detached when a sufficient quantity of water is permitted access thereto.

It is an important feature of the present invention that the removal of the film takes place gradually, permitting the baking powder to perform its function slowly, and in proportion to the raising of the temperature.

It is a desired advantage in the use of all baking, powders that the escape of the gas should be slow'and substantially continuous With the baking process, thus permitting the dough to rise slowly and gradually, and this is accomplished by our invention.

We claim y 1. The process of making baking powder which consists in coagulating albumen, treating. the same with a solution of caustic alkali to produce a solution of alkaline albumen, adding the product to a filler, and commingling the same, adding the necessary quantity oftartaric acid, thoroughly mixing to neutralize the alkali in the alkaline albumen by part of said acid and thereby attaching the coated filler by means of the coagulated albumen to the remaining tartaric acid, heating the mixture in a comminuted form tocreate dry insoluble films around the individual particles of the tartaric acid, and

then mixing it with the alkaline ingredient in the usual manner, substantially as described.

. 2. The process of making baking powder which consists in coagulating albumen, treat ing the same with a solution of caustic alkali to roduce a solution of alkaline albumen, adding the product to a filler, and commingling the same, adding the necessary quantity of an acid ingredient, thoroughly mixing to neutralize the alkali inithe alkaline albumen by part of said acid and thereby attaching the coated filler by means of the coagulated albumen to the remaining acid ingredient, heating the mixture in a comminuted form to create dry insoluble films around the individual particles of the acid ingredient, and then mixing it with the alkaline ingredient in the usual manner, substantially as described.

3. A baking powder having the particles of its acid ingredient coated with a dry, insoluble film but mechanically detachable by the action of water, and consisting of starch and coagulated albumen, substantially as described. I

4. A baking powder having particles of tartaric acid coated with a dry, insoluble film, but mechanically detachable by the ac tion of water and consisting of starch and coagulated albumen, substantially as described.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. I

owe BEST. ORLES s. ASH. EDGAR SAMSON. 

